Sunday, 6 November 2011

Someone recently asked me to name the players that I would want to see on a fictitious NBA version of 'Mount Rushmore'. It led to much debate. Should the four players be the 'best' in NBA history? The 'greatest'? Or the most 'significant'? And what exactly do those terms mean?

My understanding is as follows:

'Best' is the easiest to define. If you took two players from history and put them up against each other, perhaps in a game of 1-on-1 (although that might be unfair when comparing guards with centers, for example), who would win? Using this criteria, Shaq is better than Bill Russell. For all of his defensive abilities, it's hard to imagine a 6'9" Russell stopping a 7'1" Shaq, especially since Shaq would have a 100lb weight advantage (although Russell fans will protest that he did a good job defending the similarly-sized Wilt Chamberlain). Another way to look at it is as follows: if all the players were in the same draft, who would get drafted above who? I'm taking the 7'1" 325 giant over the Celtics legend.

'Greatest' refers to who had the greater career. There's really no need for debate here: With 11 championship rings, Bill Russell had a far greater career than Shaq (who won 4 rings). Russell is the greater player of the two.

(For those keeping up, you might have already considered that LeBron James is certainly one of the very best players in NBA history, but definitely not the greatest)

Meanwhile, 'Significance' is by far the hardest to define and, therefore, the most difficult way of ranking players.

In history teaching, Cambridge University's Christine Counsell (2004) proposed that we should use the '5Rs' to determine the historical significance of past events. I have adapted these below:

Remarkable - It was remarked upon by people at the time

Remembered - It was important at some stage in history

Resulted in change - It had consequences for the future

Resonant - People like to make analogies with it

Representative - ...of some other aspect of historical significance.

Therefore, using Counsell's (2004) criteria, which players are the most significant in NBA history? Let's start with players who ticked some - but not all - of the five Rs criteria. There are a variety of permutations we could consider, and here are some of them:

Group 1: Remarkable, Resulted in change... but not necessarily Remembered, Resonant or Representative of any other aspect of historical significance

Joe Fulks was one of the first proponents of the jump shot (which helped change the way basketball is played) and he once scored 63 points in a game (certainly remarkable at the time). But ask your Dad (or his Dad, for that matter) if he's heard of Joe Fulks. He's not remembered by enough people to be resonant.

Same goes for Maurice Stokes. He was the first black star of the NBA and made the All-League 2nd Team in all three seasons of his short-lived career. Certainly remarkable. Meanwhile, he helped change the way the public viewed black players. But his career was cut shorty by a tragic head injury and, therefore, is not very well remembered today.

Group 2: Remarkable, Remembered, Resonant... but didn't Result in change and wasn't Representative of any other aspect of historical significance:

These are the players that we still make comparisons to today. They were remarkable for a variety of reasons and we certainly remember them with fondness. Tiny Archibald, Dennis Rodman and Reggie Miller are three such players. Fan favourites, certainly, but did they change the game? I don't think so. Plenty of other All-Star calibre players could be included in this category.

Group 3: Remarkable, Remembered, Resulted in change... but not Resonant or Representative of any other aspect of historical significance:

George Mikan fits this category. He is certainly more memorable than Fulks or Stokes (most basketball fans have heard of Big George) and he helped change the game (the lane was widened to make life more difficult for him - but he still dominated). But do fans still resonate with him? When did you last hear someone make a player comparison to George Mikan? ("You know who that Tyler Zeller reminds me of? George Mikan" - just no). Mikan was certainly important but not quite significant enough to make the NBA's Mount Rushmore.

Next up, we have Elgin Baylor. He was a remarkable talent - one of the first to play 'above the rim' - and, therefore, he changed the game as we know it. He's still remembered to this day as one of the best players ever. And yet it's rare to hear people make analogies to Elgin Baylor. Some might argue his Lakers teammate, Jerry West, was equally remarkable. He's another player who doesn't necessarily resonate with fans today (despite being the NBA's logo).

Group 4: Remarkable, Remembered, Resonant, Resulted in change... but not Representative of any other aspect of historical significance:

Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James - four of the most remarkable players of all-time who will be remembered for years to come. Shaq's size resulted in changes to foul-calls, KG and Kobe opened the door to high-school players entering the NBA, and King James pretty much slammed shut that door behind him. All three players changed the game with their unique size and skill sets. But what do they represent about any other aspects of historical significance? Maybe it is too early to say?

Same goes for Pete Maravich, Earl Monroe and Allen Iverson. These players lacked the talent of Shaq, KG and LeBron but were still remarkable for their flashy style of play (which brought about changes in the way we perceive ball-handling and passing). All three resonate with fans to this day. None represent much about the past. Same goes for Oscar Robertson.

Group 5b (just missing the cut): Remarkable, Remembered, Resonant, Resulted in change, Representative of other aspects of historical significance:

Wilt Chamberlain ticks all the boxes and was one of the hardest cuts from Mount Rushmore. He changed the game and will be remembered forever as a remarkable player, but does he represent anything from the past? Same goes for Bill Russell, who wasn't as remarkable as Wilt the Stilt, despite being the greater player. However, Russell succeeds in representing the changing racial make-up of professional sports.

Perhaps surprisingly, Yao Ming also meets all the criteria but it is difficult to predict how memorable he will be in the future (outside of China, might he be largely forgotten? Time will tell). Ming certainly represents a potential (and likely) hegemonic shift in power from the USA to China.

Dirk Nowitzki - the greatest European NBA player of all-time - is another player who meets the selection criteria, but not to the same extent as the players chosen for Mount Rushmore.

Finally, another tough omission was Larry Bird. A truly remarkable player who certainly resonates with people to this day, but did he really change the game?

It is time, ladies and gentleman, to introduce the NBA's Mount Rushmore of the most Significant Players in NBA History <drum roll, please>

First up we have Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was remarkable for his combination of size and skill, remembered for his scoring records and longevity, resonant as a dominant big man, resulted in change to the NCAA anti-dunking rules and representative of a post-Martin Luther King politically-charged America.

Remarkable for his graceful assaults on the basket, remembered for his nickname, resonant as a comparison for modern day high-flyers, resulted in a change to the structure of the league (ABA/NBA merger) and representative of 1970s funk and soul, Julius 'Dr J' Erving is the second name etched into the stone of the NBA's Mount Rushmore.

Next we have one of the most charismatic players in NBA history: Magic Johnson. He was remarkable for being able to lead the fast-break better than anyone, remembered for his uncanny passing ability, resonant as an unusually tall point guard, resulted in change to the way we perceive people with HIV/AIDS and representative of the glitz, glamour and excess of 1980s Hollywood.

Finally, we have the most obvious selection to the NBA's Mount Rushmore: Michael Jordan. MJ was remarkable for his athleticism, remembered for his intensity and dominance, resonant as a measuring stick for every player that followed, resulted in change to the NBA's hand-checking rules, and represents global capitalism and the Americanisation of cultures across the world.

Who makes your NBA Mount Rushmore?

----------------------------------------------------

February 2014 update:

I change my mind regularly - I'd probably go with the following:

- Firstly, we have the most obvious selection to the NBA's Mount Rushmore: Michael Jordan. MJ was remarkable for his athleticism, remembered for his intensity and dominance, resonant as a measuring stick for every player that followed, resulted in change to the NBA's hand-checking rules, and represents global capitalism and the Americanisation of cultures across the world.

- I personally think it's impossible to leave Bill Russell off the list. He is well remembered - the Finals MVP award is named after him for a reason. His team success was truly remarkable. He represented a shift in opinion about the black sportsman and was the first black coach in American sports history.

- Next up we have Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He was remarkable for his combination of size and skill, remembered for his scoring records and longevity, resonant as a dominant big man, resulted in change to the NCAA anti-dunking rules and representative of a post-Martin Luther King politically-charged America.

- The final player etched into the stone of the NBA's Mount Rushmore should be Larry Bird. His all-around ability was remarkable and readily accessible for future generations thanks to endless YouTube tribute videos. He will certainly be remembered as the greatest white player of all-time, all the more astonishing given his relative lack of athleticism. He represented every rural kid in America with basketball hopes and dreams.

Saturday, 5 November 2011

The irony is that players who electrify crowds with gravity-defying dunks are, if anything, usually overrated. Vince Carter, Shawn Kemp, Dominique Wilkins and others were all known for their emphatic assaults on the rim. They hold a special place in our hearts for the simple fact that they could do things on a basketball court that mere mortals could only dream of doing. Team success and individual accolades be damned, players like that will be remembered forever – YouTube will see to that.

Is it possible that Julius Erving became so overrated that he is now underrated?

Could it be that Dr J’s aerial ability actually hurt his long-term legacy? Do people look back at his flashy game and perceive it as style-over-substance?

For someone once so famed for his style, Erving has relatively quickly become an unfashionable choice when ranking the best players of all-time.

Much more than just an offensive juggernaut, people seem to forget that he averaged a Kirilenko-esque 2.0spg and 1.7bpg for his career.

He was a force of nature offensively too, of course, shooting .507 FG% for his career. And no, that statistic is not inflated by his ABA numbers. He actually shot the ball slightly better in the NBA than in the ABA.

Erving’s statistics were mind-boggling. In his rookie year, in the ABA Playoffs, Dr J played in 11 games and averaged 33.3ppg, 20.4rpg and 6.5apg.

Some people might scoff at such statistics and argue that it came against inferior competition. And yet, in the 1976 ABA Finals, against a tough Denver Nuggets team (featuring future Hall of Famers Dan Issel and David Thompson, as well as Bobby Jones – one of the best defenders of his era and a future teammate of Erving’s in Philadelphia), Erving averaged 37.7ppg, 14.2rpg, 6.0apg, 3.0spg and 2.2bpg. Erving's Nets won the championship.

“He had the best playoff series in a championship series that I've ever seen one individual have”, his coach, Kevin Loughery, would later say about Dr J’s performance in the 1976 ABA Finals.

In the NBA, Erving took some time to adjust but, in his fourth year in the League, won the regular season MVP award. In doing so, he became the first non-center to win the award since Oscar Robertson seventeen years earlier.

In total, across both the ABA and NBA, Erving was selected to 16 All-Stars Games, was named All-League 1st Team on 9 separate occasions, received 4 MVP awards and won 3 championship rings.

And yet, nearly every publication and journalist ranks Erving 15th or lower in their respective all-time player rankings. The only voter of note who apparently bucks the trend is Peter Vecsey who once named Erving as the 9th best player of all-time.

There are certainly about 8 or 9 players who deserve to be ranked ahead of Erving. But he has a case to be ranked ahead of the likes of Bob Pettit, Malone (Karl and Moses), Elgin Baylor, John Havlicek and Hakeem Olajuwon.

In fact, when you factor in all the possible criteria – statistics, accolades, team success, legacy – it’s hard to rank Erving below the likes of Jerry West or Kobe Bryant.

Were either of those players really better than Dr J?

Is it possible that Julius Erving became so overrated that he is now underrated?

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

The year is 2025 and a group of mad scientists have cloned every superstar from NBA history. Conveniently, those players are now all exactly the same age - twenty. Oh, and they're all eligible for the 2025 NBA draft.

Meanwhile, the memories of every NBA coach, general manager, scout and fan have been wiped. Nobody can remember these players' careers, so there is no benefit of hindsight. Jordan hasn't got six rings, LeBron hasn't made The Decision, Alcindor hasn't converted to Islam and Penny hasn't injured his knee.

So, based purely on height, athleticism and talent at the age of twenty, who would be drafted above whom?

This is the NBA's ultimate fantasy draft.

1st Pick

Shaquille O'Neal (C, 7'1", 325lb)

There are plenty of big men to choose from, but none with Shaq's combination of size and athleticism. Dominant post player with thunderous dunks. His only weakness is his free throw shooting but, with the right coaching, he'll soon hit 70% from the stripe. Loves food.

2nd Pick

Wilt Chamberlain (C, 7'1", 275lb)

One of the most impressive physical presences in the draft. Excellent athlete for his size. Can dunk from the free throw line. Needs the ball in his hands to keep him happy. Fills up the box score. Good length (and claims he knows how to use it).

3rd Pick

LeBron James (SF, 6'8", 250lb)

The best overall athlete on the board combining incredible strength, speed and leaping ability for his size. He can slash to the basket but needs to work on his jump shot. Potentially a lockdown defender and triple-double waiting to happen. Charismatic and fiercely loyal.

4th Pick

Lew Alcindor (C, 7'2", 225lb)

Not the strongest center on the board but definitely one of the most skilled - he destroyed opponents during the pre-draft workouts with his sweet hook shot. His height makes him nearly unstoppable. Needs to improve his work ethic to become a dominant defensive force. Deeply religious. Rarely smiles.

5th Pick

Magic Johnson (PG, 6'9", 215lb)

Magic was easily the best passer in pre-draft workouts and made everyone around him better. No matter who was on his side, his teams won games with style during the workouts. Has more groupies than the Beatles.

6th Pick

Kevin Garnett (PF, 6'11", 220lb)

Unbelievably skilled forward for his height. Plays with great intensity, especially on the defensive end where he inspired his teammates and led by example. Good passer. Must add weight and avoid making inappropriate cancer jokes.

7th Pick

David Robinson (C, 7'1", 235lb)

Incredible athlete and defensive force with a chiselled physique. He passes the eye test. Can score in the post or out to fifteen feet. During pre-draft workouts, he shied away from one-on-one battles. Favourite film: Saving Private Ryan.

8th Pick

Chris Webber (PF, 6'10", 245lb)

Jack of all trades. Can pass the ball better than any other power forward. Very skilled player, fun to watch. Can hit the occasional three-pointer. Rebounds well. Athletic. Unusually baggy shorts.

9th Pick

Ralph Sampson (PF/C, 7'4", 228lb)

Incredible leaping ability, especially considering his size. Can hit the mid-range jump shot or attack the basket. Decent defender with potential to develop further in this area. Prefers to play away from the basket. Brittle.

Otherworldly athlete who only slips this far because big men are more desirable. Lockdown defender who can hit the big shot with the game on the line. Fearless competitor. Suffers no fools. Dabbles in golf, baseball and gambling during spare time.

Polished post moves and stingy defense are his calling cards. Can dominate at both ends of the court. Draft position hurt slightly by concerns over his real height and age. Chose basketball over soccer and ballet.

15th Pick

Julius Erving (SF, 6'7", 210lb)

His leaping ability has to be seen to be believed. He soars like a bird and can palm the ball with ease. Intelligent (wanted to be a doctor when he was younger) and charismatic. Massive hands.

16th Pick

Allen Iverson (SG, 6'0", 165lb)

Quickest player in the pre-draft combine. Explosive first step. Flashy dribbler with a lethal crossover move. Can score against players a foot taller. Rebellious nature and hatred of practice hurt his draft stock.

He has polarized scouts and general managers alike. On the one hand he is a lethal shooter, incredible passer and plays every game like his life depends on it. On the other hand he is slow, white and has an awful haircut.

19th Pick

Patrick Ewing (C, 7'0", 240lb)

Scouts love his defensive potential. Very nice jump shot for a center. Good size. A real grafter - which makes up for his mediocre athleticism. A bit plodding at times. Jamaican.

20th Pick

Penny Hardaway (PG, 6'7", 195lb)

Similar skillset to Magic Johnson but not quite as big or strong and, unlike Magic, can shoot the three with regularity. Talented dribbler and passer. Equally adept at taking over a game or deferring to teammates. Potentially a talented defender. Penchant for wearing a plaster on his cheek.

21st Pick

Bill Walton (C, 6'11", 250lb)

Rumoured to be more like 7'1" (was bare-footed when the measurements were taken, which fits the hippy stereotype). Arguably the best all-around center in the draft, he can do it all. Particularly strong on the boards. Ginger.

22nd Pick

Shawn Kemp (PF, 6'10", 230lb)

Ferocious dunker and shot-blocker. Extremely gifted athlete with great strength and leaping ability. His game still needs refining but he has all the tools to dominate his position. Developing jump shot. Weight Watchers spokesman.

23rd Pick

Dominique Wilkins (SF, 6'8", 230lb)

Offensive machine. Torched Adam Morrison for 63 points in a pre-draft workout. One of the best athletes in the draft and arguably the best dunker but a lazy defender. A highlight reel waiting to happen.

24th Pick

Jason Kidd (PG, 6'4", 195lb)

Good height for his position. Seemingly has eyes in the back of his head. Excellent rebounder for his position. Plays tough defense but can't shoot. Huge head. Unknown ethnicity.

25th Pick

Blake Griffin (PF, 6'10", 251lb)

Tremendous athlete. Explosive forays to the basket. The man you want on the end of your alley-oops. Uncanny dribbling ability for a big man. Strong rebounder and can find the open man. Drives a Skoda. Unknown ethnicity.

26th Pick

Tracy McGrady (SF, 6'8", 235lb)

Cousin of Vince Carter. Excellent all-around ability. Can flat out score the basketball. Excellent range. When he gets hot, he gets really hot. Capable defender... when he wants to be. Exciting player with a flair for the dramatic. Loves to sleep.

27th Pick

Vince Carter (SG, 6'6", 215lb)

Cousin of Tracy McGrady. Recorded the highest vertical leap in the pre-draft combine results. Can score from distance but prefers to attack the basket with reckless abandon. A bit selfish at times. Hates defense and Canada.

28th Pick

Derrick Rose (PG, 6'3", 190lb)

After Iverson, the fastest player in the draft. Incredible first step - can blow past even the toughest defenders. Needs to develop more of a pass-first mentality. Can take over games in the fourth quarter with his scoring ability. Must work on personality.

29th Pick

Dirk Nowitzki (PF, 7'0", 245lb)

The most talented European on the draft board. Exceptional shooting ability, especially for a seven-footer. His fadeaway jump shot is unguardable. One of the most talented offensive players in the draft. Mediocre defender and rebounder. Plans to spend his first paycheck on a sunbed and stylist.

30th Pick

Kevin Durant (SF, 6'9", 215lb)

Similar player to Nowitzki but three inches shorter and twice as cool. Deadly from long range. Potentially a decent defender but must add bulk to his lithe frame. Spokesman for the International Backpacking Community.

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

I read an interesting online debate earlier today. Someone was trying to convince people that Jason Kidd is a better passer than John Stockton (even though Kidd has less career assists and averages fewer assists per game). The argument was based around the fact that Kidd's passes are more flashy and that, if Kidd played his entire career next to someone like Karl Malone, he'd have just as many assists as Stockton.

It's a slightly flawed argument since it shouldn't really matter how flashy a pass is as long as it finds its target and leads to a basket.

However, it got me thinking about who I'd choose if I was selecting the flashiest passers of all-time at each position (no easy task, especially selecting a point guard from a long list of worthy candidates). Eventually, after hours of YouTube-induced nostalgia, I narrowed down my short list to the following starting five...

All-Time Flashiest Passers - The Starting Five

Center

--- Arvydas Sabonis ---

In 1998, while discussing the best teenagers he'd ever seen play basketball, Bill Walton had this to say about Sabonis: "When he was a 19-year-old, before the injuries, and before he put on the weight, he was a seven-foot-three Larry Bird who could do everything". Even after the injuries and the weight gain, Sabonis' passing ability still shone through.

Power Forward

--- Chris Webber ---

There have been numerous players throughout NBA history who failed to live up to expectations, but Chris Webber's unfulfilled potential is perhaps the most perplexing. The man was a wizard with the basketball. The highlights below not only demonstrate Webber's incredible court awareness and passing ability, but also his defense and athleticism. He had a nice career... but it should have been oh so much nicer.

Small Forward

--- Larry Bird ---

An easy choice and, for my money, the best passer ever irrespective of position. Magic Johnson is a close second - and was certainly better at leading the fast break and generally running point duties - but, in a half-court offense, nobody was better than Bird. He could plot the movement of every player on the court and, before anyone even knew about it, he'd somehow put the ball in the hands of a teammate in a position to score. Uncanny.

Shooting Guard

--- Pete Maravich ---

"Maravich was unbelievable. I think he was, like, sort of ahead of his time in the things he did", said Magic Johnson. "He could do things with a basketball I've never seen anybody do", concurred Rick Barry. Just imagine if YouTube existed when Pistol Pete was running the show.

Point Guard

--- Jason Williams ---

Magic Johnson. Steve Nash. Bob Cousy. Jason Kidd. John Stockton. All would have been fine choices at point guard for the All-Time Best Passers Starting Five, but how could I resist White Chocolate? Williams' off-the-elbow pass in the 2000 Rookie All-Star Game is still the best I've ever seen. Forget about the woeful shooting percentages and suspect defense. Just enjoy Jason Williams for what he was - the flashiest passer in NBA history.

Sunday, 21 August 2011

In 1994, Slam's inaugural High School All-American First Team selections included three seniors (Felipe Lopez, Jerod Ward and Raef LaFrentz) as well as two juniors (Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett). In the years since, Slam has made an annual tradition of announcing their first, second and third team All-Americans. Sometimes the players lived up to the hype (Kobe, Garnett, LeBron, etc) and sometimes they faded into obscurity (Lester Earl, Chris Burgess, Kelvin Torbert, etc).

Being selected as a much-heralded Slam All-American clearly isn't a guarantee of future fame and fortune (although Slam do a much better job than most). In fact, using the 1994-2004 All-American selections as a sample (since it's unfair to include more recent players who might yet make it big in the League), I calculated the following statistics:

- Of all the players selected to the Slam HS All-American first, second or third teams between 1994 and 2004, 26 players (16%) became All-Stars while 37 players (22%) went undrafted.

- Being selected to the Slam HS All-American First Team improves your odds of becoming an All-Star, with 15 players (28%) achieving that feat.

- However, on the other hand, there is a 13% chance that you won't get drafted even if you make it onto Slam's First Team. Just ask Wayne Turner, Jerod Ward, Lester Earl, Chris Burgess, LaVell Blanchard, Kelvin Torbert and Jonathan Hargett.